Aquatic Exercise Apparatus and Method of Aquatic Exercising for Improving Mobility

ABSTRACT

Proposed are an aquatic exercise apparatus and a method for exercising aimed at improving mobility of a user by exercising in water. The apparatus consists of base support and a balance board, which is connected to the base support via a resilient body that allows tilting of the balance board in any direction and a mechanism that provides free rotation of the balance board. Exercising in water allow people with mobility deficits to perform exercises without a fear of falling, decreasing pain, and improving cardiovascular return.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to apparatuses and methods forexercising therapy and, more particularly, to an aquatic exerciseapparatus and a method for Improving mobility of a user by exercising inwater. More specifically, the apparatus and method of the invention aresuitable for improving mobility, balance, and strengthening joints of ahuman body by executing exercises in water. The apparatus and method areespecially useful for seniors who are more prone to falls.

Seniors struggle with a range of problems that can negatively affecttheir mobility, especially those associated with age-related conditionssuch as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, osteoporosis, loss of vision,heart disease, shuffling gait, and in some cases, imbalances caused byprescribed medications, which can cause dizziness and weakness, inparticular, when several of these factors combine. In older people,these conditions significantly increase a risk of losing balance andfalling.

On the other hand, when a person exercises in water, hydrostaticpressure supports and stabilizes the person thus allowing people withmobility deficits to perform exercises without a fear of falling,decreasing pain, and improving cardiovascular return.

Elderly people are especially prone to low-extremity and ankle jointinjuries. Therefore, balance training for fall protection will be veryeffective when exercises are associated with strengthening these joints.

At the same time, well-known balance training apparatuses and methodsare focused for people of any age mainly on the use of ground-basedexercise aids. Some examples of such devices are shown below.

Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 8,678,985 issued on Mar. 25, 2014 to E. MichaelMattox discloses a balance training and exercise device that contains arigid, shallow disc adapted to accommodate a user's feet or knees. Thedisk has a curved, e.g. spherical lower surface so that a user can rockon the disk by moving forwards, backwards, or rotating. Armstrengthening means can also be used in combination with the disc.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,542 issued on Jul. 26, 1988 to Donald Hudecdiscloses a device and a method for concomitantly correlating cerebral,neural and muscular reflexes by rocking on a foot-supporting boardhaving a fulcrum on a curve surface of a support. The central part ofthe rocking board is connected to the curvilinear support via aresilient member located in the fulcrum point of rocking motions.

There exist many other exercising devices and methods based on theprinciples described in the two preceding patents. However, not allthese devices are suitable for use by handicapped, disable, and unfittedindividuals, as they do not exclude an incidence of falling and gettinginjuries.

Known in the art are also apparatuses and methods for improving balancefunction of a person by exercising in water.

Chinese Utility Model No. 204034150 issued on Dec. 24, 2014 to XuejunCao, et al. discloses an in-water balance function-training instrument,which comprises a bottom board, a vertical rod, a transverse rod,floaters, and weights. The bottom board is a balance board with an arcbottom face and a flat top face. The vertical rod is verticallyinstalled in the exactly center position of the front endface of thebottom board. The transverse rod is installed on the vertical rod andperpendicular to the vertical rod. The floaters and/or the weights ofdifferent weights are arranged in the two ends of the transverse rodrespectively, so that an unbalanced load-bearing state of the two endsof the transverse rod is formed. In the training process, a personstands on the bottom board. Furthermore, the training instrumentcomprises a handrail and an angle scale, wherein the handrail used forbeing held by hand and the angle scale is used for indicating the degreeof inclination of the instrument. According to the in-water balancefunction training instrument, due to the fact that the bottom face ofthe bottom board is of an arc shape, the instrument swings leftwards andrightwards just like a tumbler; the transverse rod is sleeved with thefloaters and/or the weights, so that the unbalanced state is created,and the difficulty of balance training is increased. In conclusion,structural design is simple and operation is convenient.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,688 issued on Dec. 30, 2018 discloses a deviceuseful for exercising in a swimming pool or other body of water, whichallows a person to be supported in a substantially seated uprightposition in the body of water such that the neck, head and uppershoulders of the person remain out of the water, allowing the person toexercise the legs, arms and torso while neutrally buoyant. The device isconstructed of a buoyant body that is contoured to be stable andrecessed laterally to be comfortably straddled by a person exercising,and includes a smaller forward portion and a larger (in volume) rearportion, upon which the person is seated while in the water. Theparticular shape of the device is such that the center of buoyancy ofthe body is positioned to substantially be disposed forward of thevertical spine (near the center of gravity) of the user for balance andstability in the water. The user may thus sit upon the body and freelymove his legs and arms for exercise in a seated, upright position. In analternate embodiment, a water paddling device, which is engageable withthe feet of the user, may be suspended vertically below the buoyant bodyfor more stringent leg exercise and may be used for transportation aboutthe body of water, or for creating a whirlpool effect around the body ofthe user.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,056,220 issue on Nov. 10, 2011 to Erik Richards, et al.discloses several embodiment of an exercycle, which is suspended byfloatation devices just below the surface of the water and requires theuser to exercise both upper and lower body portions to work whilemaintaining balance in the water. The aquatic equilibrium cycle can beused for muscle toning, physical therapy or competition. Someembodiments employ a foot pedal having hinged wings, which produce anoctopus-type propulsion to move the cycle in a forward direction. Someembodiments allow the adjustment of the magnitude of floatation force toaccommodate the body size of the particular end user.

The aquatic exercise devices of the type described above are complicatedin construction, expensive to manufacture, and mainly are not intendedfor strengthening low-extremity joints, i.e., ankle, knee, and hipjoints in handicapped, injured, post-surgery people, as well as inseniors, etc. Keeping this in mind, there is a demand for developingsafe, simple, and inexpensive devices and methods efficient in action,suitable for placing into water in any swimming pools or water basinsand adapted to improve balance abilities in people of different healthand body conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for improving mobilityand balance ability, more particularly, to an aquatic exercise apparatusand a method for Improving balance ability of a user by exercising inwater. More specifically, the apparatus and method of the invention aresuitable for improving balance ability in handicapped, post-operative,unfitted people and seniors by strengthening their hips, knees, andankle joints for preventing falls and traumas by executing exercises inwater.

The apparatus of the invention for improving balance ability is intendedto be used in water, e.g., in a swimming pool, in any closedwater-containing vessel, or in an open water basin, e.g., in a river,lake, or the like. The apparatus consists of two main easily connectableand disconnectable units, i.e., a balance board unit and a board supportunit. The balance board is connected to the board support unit via aresilient or flexible member, one end of which is connected to thebalance board, and the other end is rigidly attached to a tube slidinglyinstalled in the board support unit. A vertical position of the tube,and hence of the balance board connected to the board via the resilientmember, is adjustable and fixable relative to the board support unit.Such an adjustment makes it possible to install the balance board atdifferent depths from the surface of the water depending on the heightof the user and exercise requirements. In order to enhance flexibilityof the resilient body it is made in the form of a body of revolutionthat has a concave outer surface and a crossovers diameter thinning fromthe edges of the body to the center.

It is recommended that the user be provided with a floating means thatpossesses buoyancy, e.g., with an appropriate wet west which does notinterfere with the arm motions. Without such a vest, it will bedifficult for the user to assume a standing position on the balanceboard. Furthermore, in order to place the apparatus into water and pullit out from water, the apparatus is provided with a flexible line, e.g.,a rope connected to the base part of the device and at the other end,via an easily disconnectable lock, to the balance board in the areaaccessible to the user, so that when the exercise session is over, theuser may give the end of the rope to a person on the land.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general view of the entire aquatic exercise apparatus of theinvention with a balance board in a horizontal position, in which a userstays in a vertical position.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate positions of the user on the balance boardtilted in different directions simultaneously with rotation.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate two modifications of a mechanism forconnection of the balance board with a support base of the apparatus viaa resilient member and rotary joint.

FIG. 6 is a view of a wet vest suitable for the method of the inventionof the type that possesses buoyancy and do not interfere with exercisingmotions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As mentioned above, the present invention relates to an aquatic exerciseapparatus and method for exercising therapy and, more particularly, toan aquatic apparatus and a method for Improving mobility of a user byexercising in water.

The invention will be further described in more detail with reference tospecific examples illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG.1 is a general view of the entire aquatic exercise apparatus of theinvention (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus of the invention)with a balance board in a horizontal position in which a user stays in avertical position, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show positions of the user on thebalance board tilted in directions shown by arrows T1 and T2simultaneously with rotation in the directions shown by arrows R1 andR2.

The apparatus of the invention, which in an assembled form is designatedby reference numeral 20, consists of a balance board 22 having a faceside 22 a and a back side 22 b, a balance board support device 24 forresting on an aquatic exercise apparatus support surface B, e.g., abottom of a swimming pool into which the apparatus of the invention isimmersed, and a resilient member 26 (FIGS. 3 and 4) that links thebalance board 22 with the balance board support device 24. Connectionbetween the balance board 22 and the balance-board support device 24 iscarried out via a connection mechanism 28, which in FIG. 1 is shown asan encircled zone A and is embodied in two modifications 28A and 28Bshown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, respectively.

The resilient member 26 is a body of rotation, which is made from aresilient material, e.g., from a hard rubber, and has an outer surfacein the form of a concave toroid 26 a (FIG. 4) with a diameter graduallydecreasing from edges toward a central part.

Prior to describing the connection mechanisms 28A and 28B in moredetail, it worth mentioning other components which are essential forunderwater use of the apparatus of the invention 20. One such acomponent is a flexible line 30 (FIG. 1) which may be, e.g., a rope, oneend of which is connected to the balance-board support device 24 and theother end to the balance board 22. The rope 30 is needed for immersingthe support device 24 into water, i.e., from the ground level to thebottom B of the swimming pool P as well as for taking the support 24 outfrom water. The rope 30 should be connected to the balance board 20 viaan easily disconnectable lock 32 located on the balance board 22 in aposition accessible to a user U.

For stability of the user on the balance board 22, the latter isprovided with foot straps 34 a and 34 b attached to the front side 22 ofthe balance board.

The balance board support 24 has a structure that tapers upward from theaquatic exercise apparatus support surface B. The upper end of thebalance board support 24 has a tubular extension 24 a that extendsupward. The tubular extension has a transverse hole 24 b (FIG. 5).

Let us consider now the modification of the connection mechanism 28 ashown in FIG. 4. This mechanism consists of a solid body 36 (FIG. 4),which is rigidly connected to the balance board 22 at one end and has anopening 36 a. The solid body can be made, e.g., of a hard plasticmaterial and may be connected to the resilient body, e.g., by a bolt 38that passes through the resilient by 26 from the bottom of the opening36 a to the face side 22 a of the balance board. For this purpose, arecess 22 b is formed in the face side 22 a of the balance board 22 anda recess 36 b is formed in the bottom of the opening 36 a. Provision ofthese recesses allows arranging the nut 38 a, which is screwed onto theend of them bolt 38, and the head 36 b of the bolt 36 in flush with theface side 22 a of the balance board 22 and with the bottom of theopening 36 a, respectively.

Another component of the connection mechanism 28 a (FIG. 4) is anelongated member, e.g., a tube 40 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4), which isslidingly and rotationally inserted into the opening 36 a of the solidbody 40. In other words, the entire assembly consisting of the balanceboard 22, resilient body 26, and the solid body 36 secured together withthe bolt 38 may be slidingly inserted into the opening 36 a of the solidbody 36 and freely rotate on it.

The tube 40 has a number of holes, such as hole 40 a shown in FIG. 4,and holes 40 b and 40 c (FIGS. 1 and 2). The connection mechanism 28includes a lock pin 24 e that is intended for securing the elongatedmember, i.e., the tube 40, in the tubular extension 24 a of thebalance-board support device 24. For securing the tube 40 in the tubularportion 24 a, one of the holes 40 a, 40 b, 40 c is aligned with thesingle hole 24 b of the of the tubular extension 24 a. By using theholes 40 a, 40 b, 40 c arranged at different heights from the bottomsurface B, it becomes possible to arrange the balance board 22 atdifferent levels with respect to the level of water in the pool P orother water basin. Thus, it is possible to adjust the vertical positionof the balance board 22 with reference to the height of the user and theload implied to the user during exercise.

The modification shown in FIG. 5 is similar to one shown and describedin connection with FIG. 4, except that a spherical body 42 is attachedto the upper end of the elongated member or tube 40. The spherical body42 is inserted into the opening 36 a (FIG. 5) of the solid body 36. Thespherical body 42 can be rigidly attached to the elongated member 24 ain a different manner. In the modification shown in FIG. 5, the tube 40a has a threaded portion 40 d that extends upward from the tube 40 a,and a spherical body 42, which is twisted onto the threaded portion.Provision of the spherical body facilitates rotation and tilting of thebalance board in any direction.

An essential part of an exercising set associated with the use of theaquatic exercise apparatus of the invention is a wet vest V (FIG. 6) ofthe type that possesses buoyancy and does not interfere with exercisingmotions. An example of such a vest is a Wet Vest produced by Flag HouseCo., IL, USA. The vest V incorporates flotation panels sewn into acomfortable and snug fitting unit, which like a wet suit provides athermal layer that insulates the user's body in the water. Without theuse of the vest that possesses buoyancy, it would be difficult for theuser to climb the balance board and to assume a vertical position on it.In addition, the vest protects the user from injuries in case offalling, even though injury with falling into water from the balanceboard, which is immersed into water to a certain depth is unlikely.

The invention was described with reference to specific drawings. It isunderstood that the description and images on the drawings are givenonly as examples, which should not be construed as limiting the scope ofthe invention application. Therefore, any changes and modifications arepossible provided, that they do not depart from the scope of theattached claims. For example, all elements of the apparatus of theinvention can be molded from a plastic material. Alternatively, thesupport base can be made from metal. The apparatus can be use notnecessarily in water but on the land. The user may exercise with a wetvest or without it. The elongated member may be comprise of a solid rodinstead of a tube. The resilient body may have a simple cylindrical orany other shape. A flexible line may be comprised of a thin metal chain.The balance board may be free of the foot straps if a user wears rubberslippers with a friction sole. The resilient body may be comprised of aspring or a set of springs.

1. An aquatic exercise apparatus for improving mobility of a user's bodycomprising: a balance board having a face side, and a back side; abalance board support device for resting on an aquatic exerciseapparatus support surface, the balance board support device comprising:a base portion for resting on the aquatic exercise apparatus supportsurface, an elongated member slidingly installed in the base portionwith possibility of fixation in a selected vertical position relative tothe base portion, and a resilient member that links the elongated memberwith the balance board via a connection mechanism that removably androtationally connects the elongated member with the resilient member. 2.The aquatic exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated membercomprises a tubular member that has an upper end, which protrudes upwardfrom the base portion, the connection mechanism comprises a solid bodythat is rigidly connected to the balance board at one end and has anopening at an end opposite to said one end, the upper end of the tubularmember beings slidingly inserted into the opening of the solid body andthus rotatingly and removably supports the resilient member togetherwith the balance board on the base portion.
 3. The aquatic exerciseapparatus of claim 2, wherein the resilient member is a body ofrotation, which is made from a resilient material and has an outersurface in the form of a concave toroid with a diameter graduallydecreasing from edges toward a central part.
 4. The aquatic exerciseapparatus of claim 3, wherein the resilient material is a hard rubber.5. The aquatic exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid body hasa cup-shaped configuration and is made from a plastic material.
 6. Theaquatic exercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein the face side of thebalance board has foot straps.
 7. The aquatic exercise apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein the face side of the balance board has foot straps. 8.The aquatic exercise apparatus according to claim 1, further providedwith a flexible line having one end and an end opposite to the one end,the one end being connected to the base portion of the board supportdevice and the end opposite to the one end being connected to thebalance board via an easily disconnectable lock located on the balanceboard in a position easily accessible to a user.
 9. The aquatic exerciseapparatus according to claim 2, further provided with a flexible linehaving one end and an end opposite to the one end, the one end beingconnected to the base portion of the board support device and the endopposite to the one end being connected to the balance board via aneasily disconnectable lock located on the balance board in a positioneasily accessible to a user.
 10. The aquatic exercise apparatusaccording to claim 3, further provided with a flexible line having oneend and an end opposite to the one end, the one end being connected tothe base portion of the board support device and the end opposite to theone end being connected to the balance board via an easilydisconnectable lock located on the balance board in a position easilyaccessible to a user.
 11. The aquatic exercise apparatus according toclaim 5, further provided with a flexible line having one end and an endopposite to the one end, the one end being connected to the base portionof the board support device and the end opposite to the one end beingconnected to the balance board via an easily disconnectable lock locatedon the balance board in a position easily accessible to a user.
 12. Theaquatic exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the baseportion has a tubular extension formed on an upper end of the baseportion, the tubular extension having a first transverse hole, theelongated member having a plurality of second transverse holes, theapparatus being further provided with a lock pin that locks theelongated member in the tubular extension of the base portion by passingthrough the first transverse hole and a second transverse hole selectedfrom the plurality of second transverse holes, when the first transversehole and the second transverse hole are aligned.
 13. The aquaticexercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the base portion has atubular extension formed on an upper end of the base portion, thetubular extension having a first transverse hole, the elongated memberhaving a plurality of second transverse holes, the apparatus beingfurther provided with a lock pin that locks the elongated member in thetubular extension of the base portion by passing through the firsttransverse hole and a second transverse hole selected from the pluralityof second transverse holes, when the first transverse hole and thesecond transverse hole are aligned.
 14. The aquatic exercise apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the base portion has a tubular extensionformed on an upper end of the base portion, the tubular extension havinga first transverse hole, the elongated member having a plurality ofsecond transverse holes, the apparatus being further provided with alock pin that locks the elongated member in the tubular extension of thebase portion by passing through the first transverse hole and a secondtransverse hole selected from the plurality of second transverse holes,when the first transverse hole and the second transverse hole arealigned.
 15. The aquatic exercise apparatus according to claim 10,wherein the base portion has a tubular extension formed on an upper endof the base portion, the tubular extension having a first transversehole, the elongated member having a plurality of second transverseholes, the apparatus being further provided with a lock pin that locksthe elongated member in the tubular extension of the base portion bypassing through the first transverse hole and a second transverse holeselected from the plurality of second transverse holes, when the firsttransverse hole and the second transverse hole are aligned.
 16. Theaquatic exercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the baseportion comprises a structure that tapers upward from the aquaticexercise apparatus support surface, and the upper end of the tubularmember, which is slidingly inserted into the opening of the solid body,rigidly supports a spherical body that facilitates rotation and tiltingof the balance board in any direction.
 17. The aquatic exerciseapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the base portion comprises astructure that tapers upward from the aquatic exercise apparatus supportsurface, the upper end of the tubular member, which is slidinglyinserted into the opening of the solid body, rigidly supports aspherical body that facilitates rotation and tilting of the balanceboard in any direction.
 18. The aquatic exercise apparatus according toclaim 8, wherein the base portion comprises a structure that tapersupward from the aquatic exercise apparatus support surface, the upperend of the tubular member, which is slidingly inserted into the openingof the solid body, rigidly supports a spherical body that facilitatesrotation and tilting of the balance board in any direction.
 19. Theaquatic exercise apparatus according to claim 18, further provided withbuoyancy-possessing wet vest which is needed to make it easier for theuser to take a vertical position on the balance board.
 20. A method ofaquatic exercising for improving balance ability of a user comprising:providing and apparatus comprising: a balance board having a face side,and a back side; a balance board support device for resting on anaquatic exercise apparatus support surface, the balance board supportdevice comprising: a base portion for resting on the aquatic exerciseapparatus support surface, an elongated member slidingly installed inthe base portion with possibility of fixation in a selected verticalposition relative to the base portion, and a resilient member that linksthe elongated member with the balance board via a connection mechanismthat removably and rotationally connects the elongated member with theresilient member; immersing the apparatus into water to a selecteddepth; taking a vertical position on the balance board while beingimmersed in water to a depth that is selected by fixing the elongatedmember in the base portion in said selected vertical position; andimproving body mobility by performing appropriate rotary, gyratory andtilting motions, possible due to a provision of the resilient member,while staying on the balance board in water.